Ethel Elizabeth Lancaster Hays, 82, of Carlinville, formerly of Girard, died on Monday, Oct. 12, at Carlinville Area Hospital in Carlinville.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to noon, at First Christian Church, in Girard, where she was a member for many years. Funeral services will follow at the church at noon, with Pastor Marty Nagel presiding. Burial will follow in Girard Cemetery, in Girard.
Mrs. Lancaster Hays was born Jan. 9, 1944, in Clinton, TN, a daughter of Lloyd Carter Violet and Anna Margaret VanHuss Violet. She graduated from Virden High School. She married Robert Dean Lancaster in 1963 and he preceded her in death in 1976.
While her sons were young, she worked as a homemaker which was her first and favorite job. During this time, she also provided daycare services to other children. An avid baker, she also created cakes for others as a side business. When her children were old enough, she returned to work outside of the home as an administrator for the Illinois Department of Transportation, from where she retired after 35 full years. Her love of gardening led her to become a Master Gardener and she kept busy with her flower beds which brought her great joy. She took pleasure in seeing an array of color blooming in her yard and seeing the hummingbirds gather daily around the blossoms. Nothing, though, gave her greater joy than her grandchildren who she doted on and loved dearly.
Mrs. Lancaster Hays is survived by her sons, Mark (Susan) Lancaster and Eric (Tonya) Lancaster, both of Girard; step daughter, Christine Hays of Oregon; grandchildren, Heather (Ryan) of Farmersville, Tyler (Holli) of Morrisonville and Nicholas of Girard; great-grandchildren, Zoe, Zeb and Natalie; brother-in-law, Don “Duck” Steele of Thayer; sisters, Irene McElroy of Chatham, Angela (Brad) Ishmel of Oakford and Lisa (Stan) Workman of Auburn; brother, Kenneth (Andrea) Violet of Lake Okeechobee, FL; sister-in-law, Gwen Lancaster of Palmyra; dear friend, Barb (Gary) Stauffer of Virden; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; step-son, Paul; and granddaughter, Tisha.
Memorials may be made to Girard Fire and Rescue.
Davis-Anderson Funeral Homes in Girard is in charge of arrangements. Please visit www.davisandersonfuneralhome.com to leave condolences or light a candle in her memory.
